Spring 2017: Life at the Battle House

Life at the Battle House

The Spring 2017 semester was a busy one. We hosted several speakers, saw hundreds of students walk through the doors, cheered on the Tarheels as they won a national championship, and enjoyed the beauty of Chapel Hill from the front yard. Click through the gallery to see a sampling of life at the Study Center!

Snacks are commonplace...college students sure do love (free) food!

The front yard is the best feature of the house and a favorite aspect amongst students.

A student drew this on our chalkboard for a CRU at UNC event.

Discipleship relationships are an active part of the Study Center ministry. Staff member Amber discipled Casey ('18) this year and it was both a fruitful and fun relationship. We aren't sure who is mimicking who in this picture!

We use real mugs for coffee and hot tea. One student even started a hashtag... #BattleHouseMugCollection

Executive Director Madison Perry, in partnership with a senior business school student, leading a discussion group on personal finance and stewardship.

We hosted a dinner + speaker series on Monday nights called 4D dinners. This program brought students from different ministries together to hear about intersections of life, work and faith from alumni, community members and other guests.

Dr. Felicia Song shared about social media and the impact it has on our lives. We co-sponsored this event with Chapel Hill Bible Church's college ministry.

Craig Fowler speaking to students about religious liberty in the workplace.

Trevor Smith shared about leading well and stewarding his business to honor the Lord.

We partnered with the UNC chapter of International Justice Mission to host a panel discussion about seeking justice with members and supporters of Justice Matters, a local humanitarian immigration, anti-human trafficking non-profit.

The highlight of our 4D dinner series this semester was our opportunity to host the CEO of UNC Healthcare and Dean of the Medical School, Dr. Bill Roper.

After a delicious taco dinner, students, alumni, and community members packed into our largest room to hear Dr. Roper share honestly about his career, as well as how his faith has informed both his leadership and his decision-making processes.

At the end of each dinner, Director of Christian Thought Matt Hoehn prays for the speakers, asking the Lord to bless their efforts and guide them in being a light to the world.

Barrie, Madison's old English sheepdog, is by far the most beloved addition to the Study Center.

Students regularly pop into the staff office to chat, ask a question, share about their days or just hang out!

It's common to see abandoned workstations on a nice day...the big front yard is hard to resist!

Amber Younger, Operations and Administrative Assistant.

The coffee and hot tea bar stands in the main room for students to grab a cup right after they walk through the front door.

Katharine Batchelor, Director of Christian Life. There's an on-going contest for how many coffee mugs you can hold in one hand. Katharine set the bar high with 11.

The rocking chairs on the front porch are certainly well-used for both casual and formal conversations.

We have a bucket of blankets by the front door for students to use outside (seen here) or inside.

We also have a dozen picnic tables scattered around the front yard that will be completely full on a nice day.

Matt Hoehn leading one of his several discussion groups this semester.

Our campus ministry partners will often drop off leftover food for the students to enjoy.

Madison Perry, Executive Director

We partnered with students to host a prayer night for refugees.

In early April, we hosted the first ever Yam Jam at UNC in partnership with UNC and NFL alum Jason Brown and his First Fruits Farm.

Students and volunteers from around the RDU area gathered to bag sweet potatoes for local food banks.

We hope to make this an annual event!

The UNC chapter of International Justice Mission hosted their annual benefit concert, Just Music, here for the first time. Complete with food trucks and a band from Nashville, the event was very successful.

We hosted basketball viewing parties in the spring for both Duke games and several tournament games.

The house was completely packed for the championship game.

The cheers and excitement in the final minutes of the game were amazing! Students flooded out of the house at the final buzzer to rush Franklin Street. What an awesome night!

The Study Center staff in their championship t-shirts.

The Old Well the day after the big win!

Katharine with two seniors she discipled this semester. This was their last meeting before graduation. It is a privilege to walk alongside students!

The Study Center sponsored a mentorship program for undergraduate women this semester. The idea began with a single student and grew into a wonderful fellowship, in which local mentors shared their life experiences and wisdom with mentees.

The staff goes on a big Sam's Club run prior to the start of exams. Believe it or not, we use all the supplies packed into that car!

We have several supporters who generously donate snacks during exams. Students are very grateful!

The house is truly overflowing during exams. We were thankful for good weather as it allowed many more students to study at the Battle House and take much needed breaks.

Students regularly take naps here, which we take to mean they really do view this place as a home away from home.

We moved our ping-pong table outside during exams this year and it was a popular addition.

The end of the semester meant saying goodbye to several seniors we had gotten to know well over the past two years. We are certainly sad to see them go, but excited for what the Lord has in store!

Barrie is the saddest of us all at the end of the semester...all of his friends are leaving!

To celebrate the completion of two years and ALL that the Lord has done, we hosted an open house and dinner on the front yard. The weather was perfect and it was a lovely evening for students and supporters to gather, share good conversation, and hear about the numerous ways the Lord is using this place to bless UNC.

We are tremendously grateful for the wonderful community that surrounds this place!

Spring 2017: Exam Dinner

Spring 2017: Last Day of Classes Party

Life at the Study Center as shown by Instagram...

Spring Wrap-up Slideshow

The North Carolina Study Center is owned and operated by the Carolina Christian Study Center, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 46-5216355). All donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.